After three games at Hap Parker Arena, and another two at the BC Hockey League Showcase in Chilliwack, Powell River Kings took their show to Vancouver Island for the first time this year in search of valuable road and divisional points early in the 2018/2019 BCHL season.
On Friday, September 28, Powell River visited Victoria for the first time since eliminating the Grizzlies from the playoffs last year. Powell River went into the game 1-0 against Victoria this season after an opening night victory in Powell River. In that game, Victoria jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Powell River clawed back with five unanswered goals to win 5-3.
This game wrote a similar story with Victoria out to a 3-0 lead by the midway point of the second period before Ben Berard cashed in on a late powerplay to pull the Kings closer heading into the second intermission.
Berard added his fifth of the season early into the third, however, Victoria shut the door and Powell River failed to find an equalizer, falling 3-2. Mitch Adamyk took the loss in goal, stopping 23 shots as Kings outshot their rivals 43-26.
“The game played a lot like the one from earlier this season,” said Berard following the game. “We had lots of chances, but their goalie played really well and we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
It was the fourth time in six games Powell River surrendered the first goal, something that was driven home to the playing group ahead of Saturday’s tilt in Nanaimo.
“[Coach] Tyler [Kuntz] made that a big point, that we had to be ready to go from the start and you saw the result of that on Saturday night when we scored the first goal,” added Berard. “We’ve been playing from behind all year and it’s tough to have success that way.”
Powell River’s visit to Nanaimo was also a playoff rematch from last season. It was the third matchup of the regular season between the teams, following a weekend sweep of the Clippers by the Kings at home in September.
Mitch Williams got the home team on the board in the first period, before heartbeat-like offence in the second period saw Powell River open up a lead through 40 minutes. Ryan Brushett, Matt Fawcett and Berard scored to give the visitors a 4-2 lead. Rookie defender Matt Rickard scored his first BCHL goal to secure the lead and steer Powell River to a 5-2 win. Adamyk stopped 24 shots for his fifth victory of the year.
“You always want that five-man attack on offence, but at the same time everything in moderation. Rico [Rickard] picked his spot and gets rewarded for playing so well since arriving in Powell River,” said assistant coach Brock Sawyer about Rickard’s first goal. “We’re fortunate we have guys on the back end who are keen to jump up into the rush and contribute, and it was great to see Matt get rewarded.”
Powell River hosts Cowichan Valley at 7 pm on Wednesday, October 3, kicking off three games in four nights at Hap Parker Arena.
A three-game homestand continues on Friday, October 5, against Trail Smoke Eaters and Saturday, October 6, versus Langley Rivermen. Both games start at 7 pm.
